Adjustable sewing machine feed



@l INVENTOR-S Ji @61+ I L, C u/omsner BY nl Likken( ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet l J GOTTLIEB ETAL ADJUSTABLE SEWING MACHINE FEED iled Sept. 28, 1949 May 12, 1953 May 12, 11953 J. GOTTLIEB ET AL 2,638,068

ADJUSTABLE SEWING MACHINE FEED Filed Sept. 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1953 ADJUSTABLE SEWING MACHINE FEED Joseph Gottlieb, Jersey City, Carl Woessner, Bloomfield, and Ludwig Eickemeyer, Union, N. J., assignors to Gibraltar Manufacturing Co., Inc., Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 28, 1949, `Serial No. 118,272

strokes, and further, the adjusting means are 1 usually adapted to determine the direction of the feed movement of the dog so that the cloth may be moved in either of opposed directions relatively to the needle of the machine.

It is the object of our invention to contribute to the art an extremely simple and inexpensive means for actuating the cloth feed dog of a sewing machine, and for controlling both its direction of movement and the distance through which it moves the cloth during each operating cyclic stroke. It is the further object to actuate the feed dog in exact timed relation to the re-` mainder of the machine.

As a feature of our invention, we utilize a feed dog that is adapted particularly for actuation by means operated from a single shaft of the machine. In this way, it becomes quite simple to co-ordinate movements of the feed dog relatively to the remainder of the machine. As a further feature of this part of the invention, the feed dog is actuated simultaneously by two mechanisms, with one mechanism moving the dog horizontally or in a cloth moving direction, While the other mechanism moves the dog into and out of the plane in which the cloth is actuated.

As a particularly important feature of our invention, we use a reciprocating actuator for the feed dog, with means for varying the axis of reciprocation of the dog actuator, and by operating the feed dog in every axis of reciprocation of the actuator except a neutral axis, we can vary the direction of movement of the feed dog while also varying the amplitude of movement thereof by the actuator.

More particularly, as a feature of our invention, we arrange for guide means to guide the actuator so that through movement thereof into different angular positions relatively to an operating shaft, the actuator is reciprocated Vin various axes. As a further particular feature', we use simple cam means, that preferably take the form of a pin and slot connection, for guiding the actuator and to move the feed dog varying amplitudes during each cycle, and in varying directions in each cycle relatively to the remain- 6 Claims. (Cl. T12-210) ing operating parts of the machine, all aswill appear presently.

We have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of our invention in4 order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that our contribution to the artvmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of -our invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which our disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of our invention. It is important, therefore, that `the claims to be granted us shall be of suliicient breadth to prevent the appropriation of our invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a sewing machine embodying my invention, with certain parts thereof cut away to illustrate the parts. Fig. 2 is a view looking upwardly from the bottom of the machine of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken along lines 4-4 of Fig. 1. FigsQB and 6 are sections taken respectively along lines 5-5 and 6-6 of' Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a View of the front end of the lower part of the machine. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lower part of the actuator and illustrates its relation to the guide means therefor and the feed dog operating means. Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially to Figs. l and 4, reference numeral I0 indicates the upper shaft of a standard type domestic machine that we shall hereinafter refer to as a main operating shaft. Shaft I 0 in the usual machine will actuate any usual take-up mechanism located at the head of the machine designated by `reference numeral Il. Shaft ID of ourmachine has secured at its right hand end a hand wheel I2 anda pulley I 3 whereby it may be driven by an electric motor or by pedal power through a usual form of leather belt.

Secured to the shaft I0 just inwardly of the casing I4 of the machine is an eccentric t5. Eccentric I5 is embraced by the arms IS and I1 of a lever I8 pivoted at I9 to the casing of the machine -and extending downwardly through an opening 20 in the base plate `2| of the machine. The downwardly extending end of the lever I8 is bifurcated to form arms 22 thatl embrace a ball 73` secured at the right hand end of a shuttle carrying lever 24 pivoted at 25 to the base plate 2l. At the extreme left hand of the lever '24, as best seen in Fig. 2, there is mounted shuttle mechanism 26 of a standard type well known in the art. It is the function of the lever I8 to reciprocate the arm 24 and the shuttle 26 during the sewing operation, this reciprocation takeing place in timed relation to the rotation of the shaft Il] and the take-up mechanism in the head Il that is actuated by the shaft Il).

The feed dog assembly of our sewing machine, best seen in Fig. 7, is designated generally by reference numeral 36 and comprises a bar 3l to which is secured a serrated or ratcheted feed dog 32 through a screw stud 33. Lever 31 is formed with a slot 35 mounted about the bearing stud portion 35 of a screw stud 36, the screw stud 36 being itself screwed toy a vertical bracket 31 extending downwardly from the base plate 2 l.

As is well shown in Figs. 3 and 7, a further bracket 38 is secured to the plate 2l, this bracket being formed with an opening 39 into which extends the end :lo of an actuator bar 4i. The end it of the actuator bar di lies not oniy within the opening 39 of the bracket 38, but also within a slot of the feed dog bar 3i. Actuator bar if is pivoted at L33 to anarm of ze "brittle lever 2li, and duri-ng rotary reciprocation of the shuttle lever iid, the actuator bar di will move inwardly and outwardly of the opening 3S in the bracket 38. This movement of the actuatorv bar 4i will, through a cam portion i5 of the said bar 4i, effects the pivotal movement of the bar 3l relatively to the stud shaft 35. ThuS, as the bar di is moved to the left in Figs. 2 and 3 incidental to clockwise rotation of the shuttle lever 2li, it effects the rotation of the bar 3i in one direction about the stud 35, while the return movement of the shuttle lever 24 will be accompanied by a reverse pivotal movement of the bar Si. This motion of the bar 3i by the actuator bar 4! moves the feed dog 32 into and out of a position just above the upper surface of the plate 2l'. Naturally, when the dog 32 is above the upper surface of the plate 2i, it is in contact with cloth applied to the said plate and will act to move the cloth relatively to the needle of `the machine. Contributing to the tractive effect exercised by the dog 32 is a presser foot P ywhich bears against the cloth to Aapply it to the teeth of of the dog 32 whereby to be moved by those teeth, all as those skilled in the art will fully appreciate.

Referring now back once again to Figs. 1 and e, a further eccentric 5S is secured to the .main shaft I of the machine, and embracing the eccentric li are upper and lower arms l, 52, of an actuator lever` 5S. Opposed to the lower arm 52 of the actuator lever 53 is a further lower .arm lili, it being the function of the arms52v and 54 to guide the lever for reciprocating movement relatively to the casing of the machine while allowing limited' rotation of the lever so as to place the surfaces 5m `and 5.20. thereof `into different angular relationships to the eccentric 50.

Obviously, when the actuator lever 53 is in different rotated positions relatively to eccentric 50, it is reciprocated by the eccentric 50 through' its contact with surfaces 5m, 52a, in different axes angularly spaced relatively to the axis of shaft I.

'For determining the angular position of the actuator lever 53 with respect to the eccentric 5t, and thereby determining the axis of recipfA rocation thereof, the `lower end of the `actuator lever 53 is equipped with a roller 55 carried .by a pin y5t that extends transversely through the tii) 4 lever 53 as best seen in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 8. Roller 55 is adapted to rest within the groove of a channel 51, channel 51 forming itself part of an adjustment assembly 5S that is pivoted to a bracket 59 on a pivot shaft 50. A friction washer GI, whose tension is adjusted by a screw 62, 'tends to hold the adjustment assembly 58 in any position to which it is rotated by a finger piece 53 forming an integral part thereof. Finger piece 63 moves relatively to a dial B marked with suitable numerals to indicate direction of feed movement of the feed assembly til and thev amplitude of movement of the feed dog 32 in each feed cycle.

Pin 5t, on which is mounted roller 55, carries a further roller it that bears Within the groove of channel 1I of a slide 12 that is carried on the plate 2| by a pair of bearing studs 13, all as best seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. Pivoted to the slide 12 at 14 is a lever 15 that is in turn pivoted to the plate 2l at 1t. Lever 1Si terminates at its left end in Figs. 1 and 2 in a small extension 11 fitting into a slot i8 of the bar Si. It will be appreciated that the end of lever 15, pivoted to slide 12 at 14, will move in an arc while the slide 'i2 moves linearly. However, the radius of the arc is so great reiativeiy to the extent of' movement of the lever 15 and the slide 1'2, that the normal tolerances of the parts will allow them to move freely in the manner set forth.

As'the actuator lever 53 reeiprocates upwardly and downwardly in Figs. 4 and 5, it will not effect movement of slide 12 when channel 1l is parallel to the axis of reciprocation of the level` 53 and co-extensive with the axis of reciprocation of the pin 5S and roller 1B. Thus, if in Fig. 5 the roller 10 and pin 55 move vertically' within the channel 1i and in alignment with the axis of channel il, there will be no corresponding movement of the slide 12 to the right or left in that iigure. Therefore, there will be no movement of the lever 1&3 and no reciprocating feed movement of the feed mechanism 3ft and dog 32. When the linger piece b3 is in a positionopposite N of the dial 6511 in Fig. l, the axis of reciprocation of the actuator lever 53 will be such that rollers 55, 'it and pin 56 will move in axial alignment with channel i i. Thos, witi'i the finger piece t3 in the N or neutrai position, there will be no movement of the feed dog 32 and any cloth applied to the machine and under the presser foot P will not be moved in a feed direction. When the ringer piece t3 is moved in one direc-4 tion or another from the neutral position N, the axis of reciprocation of the actuator lever 53 relatively to the vertical will be changed because of the new alignment of channel 51 rel-Y atively to roller 55Y and then more orless movement of the slide 12' will be effected by the roller 15. If we suppose, for example, the axis of reciprocation of the pin 55 in Fig. 5 is along theline 8U, then it is obvious that a relatively considerable movement of the slide 12 will take place, with the direction of movement consequently imparted t0 dog 32 being in predetermined lrelation to the pivotal movement of the bar 3l and the dog 32 about the stud 35. If, on the other hand, the axis of reciprocation is effected along the line 8l in Fig. 5 by ringer piece E3, then there will be `a considerable throw of the feed dog 32 but in an opposite relation to the movement of the bar 3l by the actuator bar 4|. it is possible through changing .the axis vof yeciprocation of the actuator lever 53 to vary the direction of horizontal movement of the feed dog 32 relatively to its upward and downward move- Therefore,`

ment and to vary the directional motion of any cloth applied under the presser foot P. It is also possible to change the amplitude of movement, all as will be quite apparent.

Those skilled in the art will now understand that the actuation of the cloth feed mechanism is, through our invention, accomplished in an extremely simple manner and in accurately timed relation to the remaining parts of the machine.

We now claim:

l. In a sewing machine of the class described, a main rotating shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, an actuator in engagement with said eccentric whereby rotation of said eccentric reciprocates said actuator, a pin on said actuator, a guide comprising a slotted member in which a part of said pin is mounted, means for moving said guide whereby to rotate said actuator relatively to said eccentric to determine the axis of reciprocation of said actuator, a feed dog, a feed slide for actuating said feed dog, means mounting said feed slide for sliding movement in a predetermined axis, a slotted member formed as an integral part of said feed slide, and a part of the said pin moving in the slot of said slotted member for reciprocating the feed slide when the axis of reciprocation of said actuator is angular to the axis of said slot.

2. In a sewing machine of the class described, a main rotating shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, an actuator having parallel spaced surfaces embracing said eccentric whereby rotation of said eccentric reciprocates said actuator through said surfaces, a pin on said actuator, a guide comprising a slotted member in which one end of said pin is mounted, means for moving said guide whereby to rotate said actuator relatively to said eccentric to determine the axis of reciprocation of said actuator, a feed dog, a feed slide for actuating said feed dog, means mounting said feed slide for sliding movement in a predetermined axis, a member formed as a part of said feed slide and having a slot extending at right angles to said predetermined axis, and a part of said pin moving in the slot of said member for reciprocating the feed slide when the Vaxis of reciprocation of said actuator is angular to the axis of said slot.

3. In a sewing machine of the class described, a main rotating shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, an actuator in engagement with said eccentric whereby rotation of said eccentric reciprocates said actuator, means for rotating said actuator into different angular positions relatively to said eccentric whereby to determine the reciprocating axis of said actuator, a feed dog, a feed slide for reciprocating said feed dog, means mounting said feed slide for sliding reciprocating straight line movement, means whereby said actuator reciprocates said feed slide when said actuator moves in a reciprocating axis at an angle to a predetermined neutral axis of reciprocation for imparting reciprocating movement to said feed dog, and additional means extending between said shaft and feed dog for moving said feed dog transversely relatively to its reciprocating path.

4. In a sewing machine of the class described, a main rotating shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, an actuator in engagement with said eccentric whereby rotation of said eccentric reciprocates said actuator, means for rotating said actuator into diiferent angular positions relatively to said eccentric whereby to determine the reciprocating axis of said actuator, a feed dog, a feed slide for reciprocating said feed dog, means mounting said feed slide for sliding movement in a predetermined line, a pin and slot connection between said feed slide and actuator whereby said actuator reciprocates said feed slide except when the axis of reciprocation of said actuator is parallel to the axis of said slot, the axis of said slot being at right angles to said predetermined line of reciprocation of said feed slide, and additional means extending between said shaft and feed dog for moving said feed dog transversely relatively to its reciprocating path.

5. In a sewing machine of the class described, a main rotating shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, an actuator in engagement with said eccentric whereby rotation of said eccentric reciprocates said actuator, a pin on said actuator extending to each side thereof, a guide comprising a slotted member in which one end of said pin is mounted. means for moving said guide whereby to rotate said actuator relatively to said eccentric to determine the axis of reciprocation of said actuator, a feed dog, a slotted member for reciprocating said feed dog, means mounting said slotted member for sliding movement in a predetermined axis with its slot at right angles to said predetermined axis, the other end of said pin moving in the slot of said slotted member for reciprocating the feed dog when the axis of reciprocation4 of said.`

actuator is angular to the axis of said slot, and additional means extending between said shaft and feed dog for moving said feed dog transversely relatively to its reciprocating path.

6. In a sewing machine of the class described, an actuator, means for reciprocating said actuator, guide means for rotating said actuator into different angular positions relatively to said reciprocating means while guiding said actuator in said different angular positions to determine the reciprocating axis of said actuator., a feed dog, a feed slide for reciprocating said feed dog and having a slot, means mounting said feed slide for reciprocation in a predetermined line with said slot in an axis at right angles to said predetermined line and adapted for alignment with the neutral axis of reciprocation of said actuator, and a pin on said actuator positioned for moving freely in said slot when said actuator moves in said neutral axis, said pin reciprocating angularly relatively to said slot when said actuator moves in a reciprocating axis at an. angle to said predetermined neutral axis of reciprocation whereby to move said slide in said predetermined line, and a pin on said actuator moving in said slot whereby said actuator recip rocates said feed slide when said actuator moves in a said reciprocating axis at an angle to a predetermined neutral axis of reciprocation.

JOSEPH GOTTLIEB. CARL WOESSNER. LUDWIG EICKEMEYER.

References cited in the fue of this batent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 426,737 Pettenkofer Apr. 29, 1890 2,215,068 Fleckenstein Sept. 17, 1940 2,306,262 Graesser Dec. 22, 1942 2,426,506 Ingwer Aug. 26, 1947 2,430,207 Best Nov. 4, 1947 

